The commentaries of C. Julius Cæsar of his warres in Gallia, and the civil warres betwixt him and Pompey / translated into English with many excellent and judicious observations thereupon ; as also The art of our modern training, or, Tactick practise, by Clement Edmonds Esquire, ... ; where unto is adjoyned the eighth commentary of the warres in Gallia, with some short observations upon it ; together with the life of Cæsar, and an account of his medalls ; revised, corrected, and enlarged.

THE FIRST OBSERVATION.

NExt to the knowledge and experience of warre,* 1.1 there is nothing more requisite in a great Commander, then greatness of spirit: for where his employment consisteth in managing the great businesses of the world, such as are the slaughter of many thousands in an hour, the sacking of cities, the fighting of battels, the alte∣ration of Commonweals, victories, triumphs, and the conquest of kingdoms, which like the constellations in the eighth sphere, are left to succeeding ages in such characters as cannot be defaced, and make an impression of the greatest measure of joy, or the greatest heap of sorrow; it is necessary that his courage be answerable to such a fortune, neither to be crushed with the weight of adversity, nor puffed up with the pride of victory; but in all times to shew the same constancy of mind, and to temper extremities with a setled resolution.

Of this metall and temper,* 1.2 is the Philoso∣phers homo quadratus made of, such as Camillus was in Rome. For never speech did better be∣seem a great personage then that of his, having known both the favour and the disgrace of for∣tune: Nec mihi dictatura animos fecit, necexi∣lium ademit, Neither did my Dictatorship puff me up, nor my banishment sink my spirits, saith he. Whereas weak spirits do either vanish away in the smoke of folly, being drunk with the joyes of pleasing fortune; or otherwise upon a change of good times, do become more base and abject,

then the thief that is taken in the fact: such as Perseus the last Macedonian king was,* 1.3 who besides his ill fortune for losing his kingdome in the space of one hour, hath ever since stood attainted of a base and abject mind, unworthy the throne of Alexander the Great.

The wise Romans used all means to give cou∣rage and spirit to their leaders, and to free their minds from such externall respects, which losse or dishonour might cast upon them. And therefore when Varro had fought so rashly at Cannae, that he had like to have lost the Roman Empire to Annibal,* 1.4 upon his return to Rome the whole Senate went out to meet him: and al∣though they could not thank him for the battell, yet they gave him thanks that he was returned home again, whereby he seemed not to despair of the State of Rome.

In like manner did the Galles congratulate Vercingetorix, that notwithstanding so great a loss, he was neither dejected in spirit, nor did hide himself from the multitude; but as a Com∣mander of high resolution, had found out means to heal those harms, and to recompence the loss of A••ar••cum, with the uniting of all the States of Gallia into one confederacie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A great Commander must have a great courage.
• * 1.2

  Homo qua∣dratus.
• * 1.3

  Plutarch Paulus Ae∣milia
• * 1.4

  Plutarch.